Novel Improvements for KRISS-type Firearm and Magazines for these Firearms

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to improvements in the design and operating mechanisms in a KRISS-type firearm, or a firearm employing a mobile mass. In one aspect, the invention is an improved cocking lever assembly comprising a main pin provided with a tenon ( 9 ) at one end (E), with a supporting compression spring ( 5 ), a cocking button ( 3 ), and a retention means ( 4 ), attached to a mobile mass ( 1 ). This assembly allows direct activation of the mobile mass ( 1 ) by the action of the operator&#39;s force on the cocking lever. Advantageously, this cocking lever assembly can be mounted indiscriminately on the right or the left of the mobile mass ( 1 ) and therefore of the firearm, according to the user&#39;s preference. This cocking lever assembly combines certain safety criteria with the option of ambidextrous use often preferred in modern firearms.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority benefit of Switzerland nationalapplication no. 02053/10 filed on 10 Dec. 2010. The entire contents isthis application are specifically incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The novel devices of the invention are particularly relevant to theKRISS® type of weapon available through KRISS USA, Inc. (Virginia Beach,Va.). The operating principles of these firearms are described in avariety of a patent applications, one of which was filed in Switzerlandon Jun. 7, 2002 as number 0975/02. This firearm, sold over the pastseveral years in the United States under the name KRISS® Vector™ orSuper V System®, features a cocking device which is somewhat complex andwas inspired by prior assault rifles. The present invention relates to anovel, simplified ambidextrous cocking lever device for this weapon aswell as an ambidextrous release assembly particularly useful for anextended magazine.

BACKGROUND FOR AND INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION

The cocking lever device characterizing the invention advantageouslyreplaces that of the KRISS® Vector™ or Super V System®. The presentcocking device, which is simpler, more efficient, and less costly toproduce, allows the cocking lever to be positioned on the right or leftside of the weapon according to the user's preference. The operator cansimply change the direction in which the lever is mounted on the mobilemass. With this novel device the user can activate the weapon's boltmechanism directly, since the cocking lever is connected to the body ofthe mobile unit. The original Kriss-type weapon, as protected by itspatent, features a mobile mass that moves substantially vertically andsubstantially perpendicular to the axis of its barrel. The cocking leverdevice that is the subject of the invention, now rigidly connected withthe mobile mass, naturally follows this same movement. The cocking leverdevice is particularly easy to unmount, without requiring tools of anykind.

The KRISS® Vector™ or Super V System® falls in the category of riflesand machine pistols referred to as “with independent cocking lever.” Thebest-known of these firearms are the legendary “Uzi” and the MPS. Withthe cocking lever device characterizing the invention, the mobilemass/bolt assembly of the weapon can be maneuvered in any situation, andparticularly when the weapon is not loaded, which is not possible withthe current mechanism of the Kriss (or the previously cited weapons). Ingeneral and in one aspect, the invention addresses the commonly foundloading problems in automatic firearms. When loading fails, it isnecessary to maneuver the bolt mechanism and force the return thereofwhen the main spring has been unable to do so, and this maneuver is onlypossible in cases where the cocking lever is rigidly connected with themobile mass (or with the bolt). Another advantage arising from the useof the present cocking lever is the ability to instantly inform the userof the firing capacity of the firearm. The position of the cocking leveressentially becomes an indicator of proper or improper closure of themobile unit, a detail that is vitally important to the user in certaincircumstances. By adapting the device characterizing the invention to aKriss-type weapon or a weapon using such an operating principle, thisweapon can incorporate all of the previously described advantages.

In a related aspect, the invention also comprises a mechanical devicecapable of retaining both a medium capacity magazine and a largecapacity magazine in working position. This retention mechanism isadvantageously designed such that a control button can be actuated byeither a left-handed or right-handed user. Thus, modern standardmagazine sizes (13 to 15 rounds on average) as well as much largercapacity magazines (25 to more than 32 rounds) can both be used. Inaddition, the operator can at will alternate between high-capacitymagazines (at least 25 rounds) and standard magazines, such as magazinesdesigned for a pistol. This advantage enables these operators to have anultimate capacity for automatic fire with a weapon that is more preciseand effective than an automatic pistol.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves two improvements to the use and operation of theKRISS-type firearm, described in several published documents includingU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,997,183 and 7,201,094, both of which are specificallyincorporated herein by reference. This type of firearm can employ amobile mass, which can also be called a slider or inertia block, tocontrol recoil forces and which moves in concert with the bolt of thefirearm during the firing cycle. In one aspect, the improvement relatesto an ambidextrous cocking lever than can be used with a KRISS-typefirearm. In another aspect, the improvements comprise a magazine lockingand releasing system that can be operated from either side of thefirearm and which advantageously can lock and efficiently use extendedmagazines holding 25 or more rounds of a typical pistol or machinepistol ammunition, such as .40 caliber, .45 caliber, .45 ACP, or otherpopular or available ammunition.

Thus, in an assembly for cocking the KRISS-type firearm that employs amobile mass that moves in conjunction with the movement of the boltduring a firing cycle, the cocking assembly of the invention comprises aremovable cocking lever. The lever can be inserted into either side ofthe firearm frame to operate and load or cock the firearm. It isremovable in that it can be removed from the firearm, or it can belocked into one side or the other and then unlocked and moved to theother side as the operator prefers. In preferred aspects shown in thedrawings, the cocking lever has on one end a handle or cocking buttonand on the other end a main pin or rod projecting into the frame andinto the mobile mass residing in the frame. This main pin has at leastone tenon or projection that can lock into a receiving slot or area ofthe mobile mass so that the operator can forcefully move the mobile massinto a loaded or cocked position. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the handleor cocking button (3) is in the unloaded or uncocked position in FIG. 1.The groove (F) and (Fa) in both sides of firearm frame (A) restricts themovement of the handle downward toward a receiving area (11) near thebottom of the frame where the barrel is at the top of the frame. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the receiving area is a notch in the groovewithin which the main pin (not shown) can be positioned to effectivelylock or hold the handle near its lowermost point of movement. When theoperator moves the handle or cocking button downward, the mobile mass ismoved to a loaded or cocked position also, which in turn moves the boltto a position where a new round can be chambered and loaded for firing.Accordingly, the mobile mass as shown in the aforementioned U.S. patentsis modified to have at least one interior hole or tunnel through whichthe main pin can be inserted from either side of the firearm. Onceinserted, the main pin can be locked into position in the mobile mass,although this is not required.

In a preferred example, the cocking lever has an elastic element orspring in the handle region that applies a force to the main pin. Whenthe operator pushes on the handle in the direction of the firearm frame,the spring is depressed and a projection on the end of the main pin canbe position into a locking area in the mobile mass. The spring can alsofunction to clamp or tightly hold the projection on the main pin oncethe cocking lever is fully inserted into the mobile mass. The handle canalso comprise a screw, rivet, or flange that the operator can turn inorder to position the projection on the end of the main pin into thelocking area in the mobile mass. This option in the handle or cockingbutton design can be referred to as a manual engaging switch that iscapable of turning the projection or tenon on the end of the main pininto a locking area. The locking area can essentially be a slotpositioned at the end of the hole or tunnel through the mobile mass, andthe locking area can be present on both sides of the hole or tunnel sothat the cocking button can be locked into either side. This aspect ofthe invention is shown in the drawings of FIGS. 11-12 in particular,where the bold arrows indicate the operators movement in inserting thecocking lever into the mobile mass (FIG. 11), turning the manual switch(not shown, but see FIG. 7 and element R) that turns the tenon on themain pin into a locking area in the mobile mass (FIG. 12), and the tenonpositioned in the receiving or locking area that is 90 degrees rotatedfrom the position in FIG. 12 (FIG. 13). In FIG. 13, since the tenon (9)on the end (E in FIG. 8) of the cocking lever opposite the handleappears in the locked position, the operator would not be able to removethe main pin in the direction of the arrow shown until the manual switchis rotated back. While the embodiments depicted in the drawings hereshow only a single rod or main pin design, more than one rod or main pincan be used that fits through more than one hole or tunnel in the mobilemass, or fits into a larger hole or tunnel that accommodates these rods.This may be preferred in heavy caliber firearms where the mobile mass islarge. The drawings shown here can be used with firearms designed to useat least up to .45 caliber ammunition. Similarly, the shape of the rodor main pin is not limited to the circle cross-section shown here, anddesigns where the main pin has a more complex cross-section, such as amultiple-lobed cross-section, or even a square, rectangle, or othershape, can be used. Thus, the shape and design of the cocking leverassembly as depicted in the drawings are not a limitation of the optionsavailable through the invention described here.

In another aspect of the improvements to the KRISS-type firearm, thefirearm is designed to accommodate and effective lock and release largeror extended magazines. Thus, the firearm frame will generally comprise amagazine well and an assembly for locking and releasing the magazine. Inthe design of the invention, the releasing buttons are located on andcan be operated from both sides of the frame. In preferred examplesshown in the drawings, the assembly comprises both left and right sidecontrol buttons operably connected to a push rod within the magazinewell. When depressed, the control button in turn forces a push rod toactivate the movement of at least one catch projection in the magazinewell to release a magazine when it has been locked into the magazinewell. Generally, a firearm will have one catch projection to hold themagazine. In the invention, there can be multiple catch projections thatare positioned to hold the magazine through one or more retention meanson the surface of the magazine. Accordingly, the invention alsoencompasses magazines, especially extended magazines of 25 or morerounds, with multiple retention means to interact with the catchprojections described here. Where there are two catch projections in themagazine well, these can be referred to as upper and lower catchprojections, which hold the magazine simultaneously. The design of thelower catch projection can vary from the upper. In fact, in preferredexamples, the lower catch projection is a hook or clasp that alsofunctions to stabilize the magazine during the firing of the firearm. Insome firearms, extended magazines have the problem of vibrating andfalling out of the magazine well while firing. The assembly of theinvention in one aspect solves this problem and securely holds anextended magazine even during rapid or automatic firing.

The specific aspects of the magazine locking and releasing assembly caninclude a spring positioned to return the control button to its restingposition after the operator depresses the left or right side controlbutton to release the magazine. Also, the design includes an upper catchprojection that fits into a slot in the magazine to lock the magazine inplace. Thus, a magazine has a properly positioned recess slot. The lowercatch projection can, as noted above, employ a hook or clasp, and thecorresponding magazine can have a properly positioned element thatfastens the magazine in place when locked. Generally, the magazine islocked into place by inserting it forcefully into the magazine well, andthe assembly includes elastic or spring elements that tension the catchprojections so that the magazine is locked once fully inserted into themagazine well. In other aspects, the control button used with theinvention comprises a pair of sloped planes that contact the upper catchprojection that lock the magazine into the magazine well in order torelease the magazine. The same sloped planes, or other areas of thecontrol button, can contact a push rod that activates the lower catchprojection simultaneously with the activation of the upper catchprojection. The designs of the magazine locking and releasing assemblyshown in the drawings here are merely exemplary of the options one ofordinary skill in the art can devise.

EXEMPLARY DRAWINGS OF THE INVENTION

The invention is presented in more detail using the examples shown inthe following drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a KRISS®-type weapon with the cocking lever thereoforiginally positioned according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the entire cocking mechanism in the operating positionthereof. The cocking lever is shown in cross-section.

FIG. 4 is an “exploded” view of the mechanical cocking device assembly.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the right and left surfaces of the mobile masssupporting the cocking lever.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the entire cocking lever in detail.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the cocking lever positioned equally well on theright and left of the mobile mass.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show how to insert (FIG. 11), lock (FIG. 12), andremove (FIG. 13) the cocking lever.

FIG. 14 shows the profile of a weapon with the positioning of the devicesubject of the invention to the front of the magazine well.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a partial view of a firearm with magazine well witha magazine engaged (FIG. 15) and without a magazine (FIG. 16).

FIG. 17 shows in detail the entire magazine release device of theinvention and the positioning thereof in front of the magazine. The bodyof the magazine well is hidden in this view.

FIG. 18 shows in detail the relative movements of the parts composingthe magazine release mechanism.

FIG. 19 shows in detail the upper catch of the short magazine.

FIG. 20 shows the push element of the upper catch.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show the push button and the organization of the variousslopes thereof.

FIGS. 23 and 24 show the lower catch.

FIG. 25 shows a short magazine with the upper retention notch thereof.

FIG. 26 shows a long magazine with the tab thereof for use as the lowerretention notch, positioned on the front surface of the body thereof.

FIG. 27 shows a longer, extended magazine advantageously having tworetention elements.

FIG. 28 shows a cross-section view of the magazine well and part offrame or body of firearm.

FIG. 29 shows another profile view of the weapon with the long magazineinserted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is one possible and exemplary embodiment ofthe cocking mechanism characterizing the invention and is not exhaustivein any way. The Figures associated with this document show theconstituent parts of the compound mechanism as used in an exemplaryfirearm: a main body or frame (A) and mobile mass (1) with a bore ortunnel (6) traversing the mobile mass (1) from one side to the other; agroove (7) tangent to the tunnel (6), two slots (8) and (8 a) alsoarranged in the sidewalls (16) and (16 a) of the mobile mass (1). Thismobile mass (1) receives in the tunnel (6) an assembly referred to asthe cocking lever (FIGS. 7-8) composed of a main pin (2) supporting acocking button (3) and a return spring (5) along with a spring retentionmeans (4). The cocking lever assembly, by the design thereof, can bemounted indiscriminately on the right or the left side of the mobilemass (1), an important point that confirms the ambidextrous use of thedevice. The cocking lever device can be inserted and removed withoutusing any tool whatsoever, proving its simplicity of maintenance for theuser.

The mechanical cocking assembly introduced above operates with acomponent referred to as the “mobile mass” (also referred to as a“slider” or “inertia block” in various embodiments) and an assemblycalled the “cocking lever” to facilitate understanding. The mechanicalcomponent referred to as the mobile mass (1), as shown in FIGS. 3-6, hasa main aperture called a tunnel (6), a groove tangential to said tunnel(7) and two apertures called slots (8) and (8 a), (FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG.6) located on each surface, right (16) and left (16 a) of the mass (1).These slots (8) and (8 a) are preferably positioned at 90° to thevertical plane of the tangential slot or groove (7), but the value ofthis angle has no particular effect on the mounting, positioning oroperation of the “cocking lever” assembly. The cocking lever assembly iscomposed of a main pin (2) provided with a tenon (9) at the end (E)thereof (FIGS. 7-8), supporting a cocking button (3), inside of which isarranged a housing (12) (FIG. 3) which can receive any of severalelastic means or spring, preferably metallic spring (5), one end ofwhich rests against the inner surface (13) of the housing (12) of thecocking button (3) (FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 7, FIG. 8).

The main pin (2) of the “cocking lever” assembly receives a retentionmeans (4) (screw, rivet or other known mode of rigid connection), theinternal surface (17) of which retains the other end of the spring (5)(FIG. 4). In this configuration, the spring (5), through the force oneach of the ends thereof against the internal surface (13) of thecocking button (3) and the internal surface (17) of the retention means(4) of the main pin (2), exerts a combined force on the main pin (2) andthe cocking button (3). The function of this mounting is to generate aclamping effect between the surface (15) of the cocking button (3),which rests against the surface (16) or (16 a) of the mass (1) or thesurface (F) or (Fa) (FIG. 1-2) (depending on the preferred construction)of the frame of the firearm (A) and the surface (10) of the tenon (9)carried by the end (E) of the main pin (2) which rests against thesurface (11) or (11 a) of the slot (8) or (8 a) in opposite end of themass (1), when inserted into tunnel (6) (FIG. 3-8), depending on whethera right or left side mounting is preferred. The retention means (4),which is positively attached by pin or screw assembly or some othermeans to the main pin (2), receives on its outer surface (14) a groove(R) that can depress and pivot said retention means (4) and the main pin(2) and cause them to rotate, simply through the use of a fingernail, acoin, a simple tool or a knife blade. This in turn causes tenon (9) torotate and lock through surface (11) when main pin (2) is insertedthrough tunnel (6).

The device characterizing the invention is mounted according to thefollowing sequence: the traversing tunnel (6) of the mobile mass (1)receives the main pin (2) of the “cocking lever” assembly. The main pin(2), positioned by its retention tenon (9) (FIG. 7-8), guided by thetangential groove (7) of the mobile mass (1) (FIG. 3-6) is inserted insaid tunnel (6). Relative to this action, the surface (15) (FIG. 8) ofthe cocking button (3) comes to rest against the surface (16) or (16 a)of the mass (1) or the surface (F) or (Fa) of the frame of the weapon(A) (FIG. 1-2). A pushing force that may be exerted first by theoperator's and then rotating force by a fingernail or by any other toolor object on the retention means (4) rigidly connected with the main pin(2), first forces the end (E) thereof to project beyond the mobile mass(1), releasing the tenon (9), and can rotate the tenon away from thegroove (7). At this moment, when the level of the projecting portion isat least equal to that of the thickness of the tenon (9), a rotationalmovement is applied to the retention means (4), rigidly connected withthe main pin (2) inserted in the tunnel (6) of the mobile mass (1), withthe help of any one of the means indicated above, to rotate the groove(R) of the retention means (4). This rotation away from the groove (7),through an angle preferably equal to 90°, as previously specified,brings the tenon (9) positioned at the end (E) of the main pin (2)opposite the slot (8) provided in the sidewall (16) of the mobile mass(1); at this exact moment in the positioning process, the user stopsexerting the pushing force on the retention means (4) rigidly connectedwith the main pin (2). Under the effect of the spring (5) constrainingthe main pin (2), the tenon (9) provided at the end (E) engages with theslot (8) or (8 a) arranged in the sidewall (16) of the mobile mass (1)and becomes positioned at the bottom thereof. The surface (10) of thetenon (9) supported at the end (E) of the main pin (2) is thenphysically resting the surface (11) against that of the slot (8) or (8a) arranged in the sidewall (16) of the mobile mass (1) (FIGS. 4-8 and11-13). At this moment, the cocking lever assembly is perfectlypositioned, clamped and locked so that the cocking lever assembly can besafely used to move mobile mass and cock the weapon. The cocking leverassembly is unmounted by reversing the order of installation specifiedabove. As indicated several times, the cocking lever assembly may bemounted indiscriminately on the right or the left side of the mobilemass and therefore of the weapon.

The following description is a possible implementing example of themechanism characterizing an aspect of the invention and it is thereforenot exhaustive. The Figures associated with this document show exemplaryparts constituting the ambidextrous double magazine-retention mechanism.In particular it is composed of a frame (201) with a magazine,comprising inside the opening or magazine well (201 a) (FIG. 16, FIG.28), thereof which receives an arbitrary magazine (205) (FIG. 14, 15,17, 25-27). The same magazine well design (201 a) (FIGS. 14-16, 28)includes appropriate recesses and elements and housings placed insidethereof. These elements and housings receive a control button (202),(FIGS. 14-18, 21-22), in the housing (235) thereof, (FIG. 28), and apush element of the upper catch (207), FIG. 17, FIG. 18, FIG. 20), inthe housing (234), (FIG. 28). These housings also receive an upper catch(204), (FIG. 14-16, 18-19) in the housing (239) thereof, (FIG. 28), alower catch (203), (FIG. 14-16), and the return spring (209) (FIG. 17),in the housing (239) thereof, (FIG. 28), and the pivoting pin (208),(FIG. 17-18), in a bore (237) of the frame (FIG. 28). This same magazinewell indiscriminately receives in the opening (201 a) thereof (FIG. 16,FIG. 28) one of three magazines sizes exemplified (205), (205 a), (205b) (FIGS. 25-27).

The mechanical device, subject of the invention described above,operates according to the following sequence, considering that amagazine has been already introduced in the magazine well of the weaponand may be empty or not. The user decides to replace a magazine withanother according to convenience or necessity.

To do this, the operator exerts a thrusting action on one or the otherof the ends (D; right) and/or (G; left) of the control button (2) (FIG.14, FIG. 15, FIG. 17, FIG. 18 and FIG. 21) with one of the fingers ofthe left or right hand. The control button slides in the housing (235)of the magazine well (201 a) (FIG. 28), and by the means of one of theslopes (221; 221 a), whose angle can be at least equal to 45° butpreferably equal to 60°, laid-out on the inner surfaces of the recess(220) (FIG. 22) of said control button (202) (FIG. 21-22) interacts withpush element (207). Sliding of the control button (202) simultaneouslyand jointly constrains the push element (207) of the upper catch (204)(FIG. 14, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, and FIG. 20), sliding in the groove (234) ofthe magazine well (201 a) (FIG. 28), as well as the lower catch (203)(FIG. 18) positioned in the housing (236) of the magazine well (201 a)(FIG. 28) by the pin (208) (FIG. 17-18). This pin also guides it inrotation by means of the bore (208 a) (FIG. 24), itself retained in thebody of the magazine well (201 a) by the bore (237) (FIG. 28).

This action still simultaneously and jointly causing the movement of theupper catch (204) (FIG. 17, FIG. 19) according to the direction of thearrow (B or A) (FIG. 18) perpendicular to the axis of force of the pushelement (207) (FIG. 18), shown by the arrow (C). The upper catch (204)(FIG. 19) bearing by construction an extension (212) receiving the endof the guide rod (206) of the return spring (210), and for which thehead (232) of this guide rod (206) rests against the inner surface ofthe housing (233) of the opening (201 a) of the magazine well (FIG. 15,FIG. 17, FIG. 28), is constrained thereby (FIG. 17, FIG. 19) (in thisembodiment) and is, at the moment depicted, engaged in the notch (226)laid-out in the wall of the magazine (FIG. 25, FIG. 27). The edge (215)(FIG. 19) is engaged under the upper surface (227) of the notch (226) ofthe magazine (205; 205 b) (FIG. 25, FIG. 27) and is pushed aside by thepush element (207) (FIG. 20), whose slope (216) comes in contact withthe slope (214) (FIG. 19) arranged in one of the surfaces of the recess(213) made in the upper catch (204) and in contact with the obliqueplane (216) of the push element (207) (FIG. 19-20). This same action onthe magazine control button (202) constrains the lower catch (203) torotate on the pin (208) guided by the bore (208 a) (FIG. 17, FIG. 18,FIG. 23-24), according to the direction of the arrow (E) (FIG. 18), andsimultaneously through a fixed angle suited to release the surface (224)from the surface (228) of the tab (227) of a suitable long magazine (205b) (FIG. 27). The operator's action on either of the ends (D) and/or (G)of the control button (202) forces the upper catch (204) to release themagazine, and in this specific case the magazine (205). The magazine isejected from the magazine well (201 a) manually by the user, under theforce of gravity, or by the action of the force of the magazine spring,against the ventral surface of the bolt or what takes its place and/orthe stop of any magazine end block device.

At the same time, in the case of a “long” magazine (205 a, 205 b) (FIGS.26-27) inserted according to the same process as the conventional orshort magazine (205), the lower catch (203) moved by the control button(202) subsequent to the work done by the sliding of the slopes (219) and(219 a), built by implementing of the hollow (218) (FIG. 21) of the samecontrol button (202) and by the intermediary of the surfaces (223) and(223 a) arranged on each of the sides of the tail (222) of the lowercatch (203) (FIG. 23). This disengages its pressing surface (224) (FIG.24) from the other pressing surface (228) of the extrusion or tab (227)of the magazine (205 a; 205 b) (FIG. 26-27). The longer magazine (205 b)(FIG. 27) is then ejected from the housing of the magazine well (201 a)according to the same effects as indicated above.

Any one of the ejected magazines can be replaced by a simple procedurecommon to all automatic weapons and performed, in the case here or inthe case of the invention, as follows:

A “short” magazine (205) (FIG. 25) is physically inserted in the housing(201) of the magazine well (201 a) until the catch position is reachedallowing the engagement of the edge (215) of the upper catch (204) (FIG.19) under the upper surface (227) of the notch (226) arranged in thewall of the magazine body (205). The conventional shape of a modernmagazine and in particular of the one shown in the various drawings ofthis specification naturally facilitates the engagement of the edge(215) of the upper catch (204) (FIG. 17, FIG. 19) by a corner pressureeffect brought about by the angle (230) made by the upper neck of themagazine (205).

In another case, a long magazine (205 a, 205 b) (FIG. 26-27) is insertedin the same way as described above for the magazine (205). In this casethe lower catch (203) (FIG. 23) is pushed back by the nose (231) of saidmagazine (205 a) (FIG. 26) or (205 b) (FIG. 27) coming in contact withthe slope (225) of the lower catch (203), which forces it to rotatenaturally on its pin (208) (FIG. 17). This rotation constrains itsreturn spring (209) positioned in the groove (209 a) (FIG. 17, FIG. 23),and one of whose branches is pressed against the surface (240) of theopening (201 a) of the magazine well, which has received one or theother of the magazines described here.

According to another implementation, the longer magazine (205 b) (FIG.27) can have both the same type of retention notch as the short magazine(205) and the long magazine (205 a). A longer magazine (205 b),therefore having two retention devices, which favors a better grip onthe housing of the magazine well (201 a) in consideration of theincreased weight of the magazine which, depending on its capacity, canbe more than double that of the short magazine (205).

Whatever the nature and shape of the magazine, whether it is single ordouble stack for the presentation of one or more munitions to be loaded,latching or catching of the magazine in working position will beeffected as has just been described.

1. An assembly for cocking a firearm for use in a firearm that employs amobile mass moving in conjunction with the movement of the bolt of afirearm during its firing cycle, the assembly comprising a removeablecocking lever, wherein the cocking lever comprises on one end a handleand the other end a main pin, and wherein the main pin has at least onetenon or projection that locks into a receiving slot or area of themobile mass, and the mobile mass comprises an interior hole or tunnelthrough which the main pin can be inserted from either side of thefirearm allowing ambidextrous use, whereby the cocking lever in thelocked position can move the mobile mass by the action of the operator'sforce on the handle.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cockinglever further comprises an elastic element or spring in the handle endthat applies force against the handle when the main pin is inserted intothe mobile mass.
 3. The assembly of one of claim 1 or 2, wherein thehandle of the cocking lever further comprises a manual engaging switchcapable of turning the projection or tenon on the end of the main pin.4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the manual engaging switch is ascrew, a rivet, or comprises a flared flange.
 5. The assembly of claim1, wherein the mobile mass has at least one slot in addition to thereceiving slot on each side of the mobile mass.
 6. A firearm comprisingthe assembly of one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the frame of the firearmcomprises a groove for the movement of the cocking lever down the frameaway from the barrel and a receiving notch or area that is capable ofholding the cocking lever in a loaded position when the operator movesthe locking lever along the groove from an unloaded position to a loadedposition.
 7. A firearm frame comprising a magazine well and an assemblyfor locking and releasing the magazine that can be operated from eitherside of the frame, the assembly comprising left and right side controlbuttons operably connected to a push rod within the magazine well, thepush rod activating the movement of at least one catch projection in thewell to release a magazine when locked in the magazine well, the atleast one catch projection positioned to hold the magazine through oneor more retention means on the surface of the magazine.
 8. The firearmframe of claim 7, wherein upper and lower catch projections hold themagazine simultaneously.
 9. The firearm frame of one of claim 7 or 8,wherein a spring is positioned to return the control button to itsresting position after the operator depresses the left or right sidecontrol button to release the magazine.
 10. The firearm frame of one ofclaim 8 or 9, wherein the magazine well is capable of receiving anextended magazine and the lower catch projection comprises aspring-loaded clasp or hook that locks the extended magazine.
 11. Thefirearm frame of one of claims 8-10, wherein the upper catch projectionfits into a slot in the magazine to lock the magazine.
 12. The firearmframe of claim 7, wherein the control button comprises a pair of slopedplanes that contact an upper catch projection that lock the magazineinto the magazine well.
 13. An extended magazine for use in the firearmframe as claimed in claim 10, wherein the magazine comprises a receivingarea that interacts with the claps or hook to lock the magazine securelyin place.